AdolphMassola0: started initial post more to come - done

2025-12-16T04:01:29Z

started initial post more to come - done

New page

{{Short description|Species of lizard}}
{{Speciesbox
| name =
| image = Western Ghat Worm Gecko.jpg
| genus = Hemiphyllodactylus
| species = aurantiacus
| authority = ([[Richard Henry Beddome|Beddome]], 1870)<ref>Beddome, R.H. 1870 Descriptions of some new lizards from the Madras Presidency. Madras Monthly J. Med. Sci. 1: 30-35</ref>
| range_map = Hemiphyllodactylus aurantiacus distribution.png
| status = CR
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 12 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=Ganesh, S.R., Mohapatra, P., Srinivasulu, C. & Srinivasulu, B.|date=2021 |title=''Hemiphyllodactylus aurantiacus'' |volume=2021 |article-number=e.T158648207A158274194 |url=https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/158648207/158274194 |access-date=12 November 2021}}</ref>
| synonyms = ''Hemiphyllodactylus typus'' ssp. ''aurantiacus'' <small>(Beddome, 1870)</small>
}}

The '''Southern Ghats slender gecko''' ('''''Hemiphyllodactylus aurantiacus''''') is a species of [[gecko]] with a restricted distribution in the hills of southern [[India]].

==Description==
Head oviform, longer than broad; snout rounded, very convex, slightly shorter than, distance between eye and ear-opening, l.3 times the diameter of orbit; ear-opening very small, round. Body elongate, more so in females than in males; limbs short, fore limb measuring half the distance between axilla and groin, or rather less. Digits short, free, inner very small, rudimentary; only two large chevron-shaped divided lamellae under the distal part of the digits, followed by transverse undivided lamellae, decreasing in width. Head covered with very minute granules; rostral and mental very small, former four-sided, latter pentagonal or triangular; nostril pierced between rostral, first labial, and several granules; labials very small, 9 or 10 upper and as many lower, no chin-shields. Back covered with very small granular scales, abdominal scales a little larger, flat, imbricate. Male with an angular series of 7 to 9 preanal pores. Tail cylindrical, tapering, covered with small imbricated smooth scales, larger below. Grey-brown above, with, along the head and back, dark-brown undulating lines, which may be broken up into spots; a dark brown streak from the tip of the snout to the fore limb, passing through the eye; whitish dots scattered on the head and back; tail with darker spots or annuli and two large whitish black-edged spots at the base, frequently and two large whitish black-edged spots at the base, frequently confluent mesially. Lower surfaces whitish, more or less speckled with brownish.<ref>Boulenger, G. A. (1890) Fauna of British India. Reptilia and Batrachia.</ref>

From snout to vent {{convert|1.4|in|abbr=on}}; tail {{convert|1.25|in|abbr=on}}.

==Distribution==
S India (Anamallays = Anailmalais, Western Ghats, Bangalore, Kolli Hills)
Type locality: "Shevaroys, under stones about Yercaud and elsewhere, at an elevation of 4,000 feet".

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==References==
* Bauer, A.M. & Das, I. 1999 The systematic status of the endemic south Indian gecko ''Hemidactylus aurantiacus'' (Beddome 1870). J. South Asian Nat. Hist. 4 (2): 213-218

==External links==
* {{NRDB species|genus=Hemiphyllodactylus|species=aurantiacus}}
* http://itgmv1.fzk.de/www/itg/uetz/herp/photos/Hemiphyllodactylus_aurant.jpg

{{Taxonbar|from=Q3016394}}

[[Category:Hemiphyllodactylus]]
[[Category:Endemic reptiles of India]]
[[Category:Reptiles described in 1870|Southern Ghats slender gecko]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Richard Henry Beddome|Southern Ghats slender gecko]]

{{Gekkonidae-stub}}

Southern Ghats slender gecko - Revision history

AdolphMassola0: started initial post more to come - done